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Linux: Microsoft Flirts with Open Source

Posted by Zonk on Tuesday May 16, @10:02AM
from the don't-be-coy dept.
Microsoft
Vin Daryl writes "ZDNet reports on Microsoft's love-hate relationship with open-source software." From the article: "The interoperability lab focuses on getting products from open-source ISVs such as JBoss, to work on the Microsoft platform, he said. 'For example, we often collaborate with JBoss, but in certain areas we might compete with them. It's competition and cooperation,' Hilf explained. 'Over time, as you see the open-source marketplace maturing and becoming more commercial, I think you'll see more of that kind of dynamics. It's not something that's unique to Microsoft,' he said, adding that IBM and Oracle also compete, and at the same time, cooperate with open-source vendors. "

Apple: Apple Unveils New Macbook

Posted by Zonk on Tuesday May 16, @09:23AM
from the soooo-cute dept.
Portables (Apple)
Several readers have written in to mention that Apple has released the new Macbook on their site. Yahoo! has details from the press release: "With prices starting at just $1,099, the MacBook lineup includes three models: a 1.83 GHz and 2.0 GHz MacBook in a newly designed, sleek white enclosure and a 2.0 GHz MacBook in a stunning new black enclosure. The new MacBook offers performance up to five times faster than the iBook and up to four times faster than the 12-inch PowerBook with a completely new system architecture including a 667 MHz front-side bus and 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory expandable to 2GB."

IT: Trojan Deletes Your Porn, Music & Warez

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Tuesday May 16, @08:29AM
from the someone-else-to-think-for-you dept.
Security
E. Vigilant writes "The new Trojan/Erazor-A has an interesting twist. In addition to deleting or disabling various security products and competing malware, it deletes any porn, warez and music in your P2P directories. While some opine that this trojan might have good intentions, remarkably few things infect the text files this trojan also deletes. No one yet knows who wrote this or why."

Google Opens Sydney Office, Internship Program

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Tuesday May 16, @05:31AM
from the coming-soon-to-a-theater-near-you dept.
Google
An anonymous reader writes "ZDNet is reporting that Google has kicked off an internship program that will see Australian university students work in projects in the company's Sydney office. Google's local head of engineering, Lars Rasmussen, said 5-10 spots would be made available, with both technical and non-technical positions on offer. ZDNet Australia also has pictures of the official opening of Google's Sydney office."

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IT: Oracle VP Robert Shrimp on Enterprise Search 8 of 9 comments

Apple: Creative Sues Apple

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Tuesday May 16, @02:27AM
from the who-says-we-aren't-a-litigious-society dept.
Patents
E IS mC(Square) writes "Looks like Apple's legal problems are not yet over. ZDNet reports that Creative has sued Apple over their iPod interface. From the article: 'Creative Technology said Monday that it has filed two legal actions against Apple Computer, charging the popular iPod infringes on its patented technology. ... In both cases, Creative says that the iPod and iPod Nano infringe on a patent the company has for the interface in its Zen media player, a patent granted last August.'"

Skype Offering SkypeOut Service for Free

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Monday May 15, @11:41PM
from the get-em-hooked dept.
Communications
Skudd writes "In an effort to boost new customer acquisition, Skype has begun offering its 'SkypeOut' service for free. The free service is slated to last until December 31, 2006." From the article: "While the SkypeOut service will allow free calling to regular phones, the company will continue to charge people to get calls using a service it calls SkypeIn, which costs about $38 for an unlimited 12-month subscription. Consumers can get the service for three months for about $12.80."

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Hardware: The New Wireless Wars

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Monday May 15, @09:33PM
from the always-declaring-war dept.
Wireless Networking
An anonymous reader writes "BusinessWeek has a story on the coming wireless wars. It's a look at how the upcoming government auction of wireless spectrum will open the door to a new crop of competitors. The new players, from Google and Microsoft to Intel and Craig McCaw's Clearwire, will compete in new wireless voice services and in wireless broadband. Look out Cingular, Verizon Wireless, and Sprint-Nextel."

Games: Controller Comparison - PlayStation 3 vs. Wii 108 of 132 comments

New Windows Media Player Leaks

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Monday May 15, @07:04PM
from the early-is-just-more-fun dept.
Windows
TacoLL writes "A new version of Windows Media Player, Windows Media Player 11, is set to be made public on Wednesday, however, it has found its way into the hands of internet users before its public release. Flexbeta has some early screenshots of the next Media Player for Windows users."

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Games: Nintendo Shares Up, But Do Devs 'Get' the Wii? 112 of 134 comments

Book Reviews: Computer Network Time Synchronization

Posted by samzenpus on Monday May 15, @05:35PM
from the ticking-away-the-moments-that-make-up-a-dull-day dept.
Networking
Ben Rothke writes "For most people, having their clocks accurate to within a few millionths of a second is excessive. Yet there are plenty of reasons to ensure that clocks on networks and production systems are that accurate. In fact, the need for synchronized time is a practical business and technology decision that is an integral part of an effective network and security architecture. The reality is that an organizations network and security infrastructure is highly dependent on accurate, synchronized time." Read the rest of Ben's review.

Your Rights Online: Reporter Phone Records Being Used to Find Leaks

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Monday May 15, @03:56PM
from the not-so-confidential-informant dept.
Privacy
jackbird writes "Brian Ross, Chief Investigative Correspondent for ABC news says a confidential source informed him that reporter's phone records are being used by the administration to track down leaks. Apparently reporters for the New York Times, ABC News, and the Washington Post are being scrutinized. The fact that ABC News journalists are even seriously wondering about whether the warning is connected to the NSA's domestic surveillance activities indicates just how anxious many people in Washington have become."

Games: Life After the Videogame Crash 143 of 164 comments
Games: The E3 of 1995 19 of 21 comments

Games: Why Sony is Ready to Self Destruct

Posted by Zonk on Monday May 15, @02:34PM
from the doomcasting-a-console dept.
Sony
jammmma writes "Before even launching the PS3, Sony is ready to self destruct." From the article: "PS3 is doomed, thanks to Sony's ignorant attitude. None of us had the chance to seriously evaluate PS3 and the experience it has to offer. It's impossible without a series of titles and an official product at hand, but from where we stand, Sony's damaging attitude is all it takes to diminish the value of PS3. Kutaragi may be right in defending PS3; after all, he can't criticize his own product, but instead of exciting users with valuable features and winning them over so they can start saving, Kutaragi makes bearish statements in response to Nintendo's announcement and Microsoft's take on Sony. Last I heard companies were at E3 to impress media personnel, which yielded positive publicity, not make childish remarks when chances were against them."

Developers: Motorola Seeks Mobile Unity at JavaOne

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Monday May 15, @02:29PM
from the shiny-happy-people dept.
Communications
Mike Barton writes "InfoWorld's Paul Krill reports that Motorola and Eclipse will unveil open source mobile initiatives at the JavaOne conference this week to broaden Java's mobile and software ecosystem. From the article: 'Motorola also will develop under an open process a references implementation and compliance test for Motorola-driven Java Specification Requests, such as the Mobile Information Device Profiles (MIDP) 3.0 specification.' Motorola's goal is "write-once, run everywhere" implementation capabilities."

Games: 360 Hacked To Play Backups 113 of 140 comments

Developers: Tanenbaum-Torvalds Microkernel Debate Continues

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Monday May 15, @01:25PM
from the arguements-that-never-die dept.
Operating Systems
twasserman writes "Andy Tanenbaum's recent article in the May 2006 issue of IEEE Computer restarted the longstanding Slashdot discussion about microkernels. He has posted a message on his website that responds to the various comments, describes numerous microkernel operating systems, including Minix3, and addresses his goal of building highly reliable, self-healing operating systems."

Why Emails Are Misunderstood

Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday May 15, @12:28PM
from the i-thought-it-because-you-were-a-jerk dept.
Communications
werdna writes "The Christian Science Monitor has a piece on why it's so easy to misinterpret emails. From the article: 'First and foremost, e-mail lacks cues like facial expression and tone of voice. That makes it difficult for recipients to decode meaning well. Second, the prospect of instantaneous communication creates an urgency that pressures e-mailers to think and write quickly, which can lead to carelessness. Finally, the inability to develop personal rapport over e-mail makes relationships fragile in the face of conflict.'"

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